Happy Bday Chelsea, 29 and holding

Happy 29th Birthday 

Chelsea

29 and holding…

(holding onto those roaring 20's)

It's so hard to believe Chelsea is turning the same age 

that PaulA and I were  when we had her 

back in Jacksonville, FL.

(refrain from doing the math) 

It was an exciting time and at the same time, 

a scary time.

One moment PaulA and I were a couple of yuppies...

working and just thinking about ourselves

and the next moment 

we were responsible for another human's well being.  

Because kids don't come with a set of instructions...

it's hard to be totally ready.

Apparently there's more to it than getting the car seat and crib.

Unless you've had a child before...

I think the "art of child rearing"

is something you learn

 as you go.

That is probably why the first child is considered 

the "test child,"

but 29 years later…

I would say Chelsea passed the test

or maybe PaulA and I passed. 
gotta love a True/False Test...50/50 chance 

I will always remember those early days and nights
with Chelsea…

being up with her in the middle of the night...

rocking her in the chair…

just the 2 of us...
getting to know my new bundle of love …

staring into her sweet face and being in total awe 

of the miracle of her birth.

The connection I felt for her was instant 
love. 
fierce.
and forever.

Those first weeks with Chelsea quickly turned into years…

29 of them.

We blinked

and 
Chelsea had grown into a beauty 
inside and out 

and 
as sweet as 
"Tupelo Honey."  

(the song Chelsea danced to with her father at her wedding on 9.27.14.)

Anywhooo….

Chelsea's 29th birthday is extra special
because

 it's not only her last birthday in her 20's, 

but it is her first birthday as 

Mrs. Chelsea Hyatt
aka
Mrs. Austin Hyatt

So as Chelsea turns 29 
and holding…

I'm remembering when we, too, were

29 and holding

our little treasure.
xoxox